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London 2009
By Jonathan Liew 5 months ago, 10 Comments »
The inaugural Twenty20 World Cup is coming to England in 2009, which means a bumper summer of cricket for the whole country. As long, that is, if you live in London. Two of the three grounds chosen to host matches will be Lord’s (group games, super eights and the final) and The Oval (warm-ups, group games, super eights and a semi-final). Which leaves one semi and change for another lucky, lucky ground. The Rose Bowl, perhaps?
Now I live in London, and personally, this suits me down to the ground. In addition, there’s no doubting that the two grounds in question are superb venues. But London is not England. Cricket fans in the Midlands and the North have every right to feel aggrieved at this.
Apparently, if you believe Steve Elworthy, it’s all to do with travelling distances, which was a major factor in last year’s tournament. But a short trundle up the M6 isn’t really the same as 1600 kilometres from Durban to Cape Town. London to Nottingham to Manchester to London in the space of two weeks isn’t going to jet-lag anybody.
It’s not just this, either. Why, for example, is London is guaranteed Tests a summer out of seven (when it has about 15% of the population)? You have to wonder whether the predominance of Lord’s and The Oval is due primarily to the quality of their facilities, or the quality of their lobbyists.
10 Comments »Lord’s moves out of the Dark Ages
By Jonathan Liew last year, mid-September, No Comments; be the first!
In the beginning was Lord’s. And all around was a formless void, swathed in darkness. And the MCC said: “Let there be light,†and light appeared. And 5,000 fans saw that the light was good, even though it was only temporary. And the local residents didn’t kick up too much of a fuss. And thus Lord’s took a bold step into the 21st century.
From the distinct lack of glitz on display on Monday night, It’s immediately clear that night cricket at Lord’s will never enjoy the same raucous atmosphere it does at The Oval. But then again, nor should it. The long overdue experiment will hopefully transform the Lord’s experience into something more thrilling and inclusive whilst retaining its respectful eloquence. Day-night games at Lord’s will feel rather like a garden party to which the whole family is invited. There really is no reason why floodlights should automatically be synonymous with furry mascots and Gwen Stefani.
No Comments »Tribute to Patrick Eagar
By Will last year, mid-July, No Comments; be the first!
Tomorrow marks Patrick Eagar’s 300th[1] Test match. It is a phenomonal achievement to have stayed at the top of his profession, in what has become a frenzied market, for so long. There will be a presentation made to him at some point during the Test, and it is richly deserved. He is an outstanding artist and photographer who has captured the vast majority of iconic imagery in cricket in the past 30 or 40 years. I’ve only met him a couple of times, but he’s a true gent - accomodating, interesting and without a trace of pomposity or ceremony about him which, given the success he has had, you might expect to be the case.
Congratulations Patrick. And so what if he missed the last two West Indies Tests in order to stage his 300th at the home of cricket! Check out his website; you’ll probably spot half a dozen photos which you’ve already seen (not least the catch Andrew Strauss took during the 2005 Ashes).
[1] At least, I think it’s the 300th - could be more…
No Comments »England v West Indies, 1st Test, Lord’s, 5th day
By Will last year, mid-May, 8 Comments »
So, both sides are going for the win apparently. West Indies need 401, England 10 wickets, but the weather’s not great. Murky, and rain is expected. Anyway, keep an eye on the scorecard and leave your thoughts in the comments.
8 Comments »England v West Indies, 1st Test, Lord’s, 3rd day
By Will last year, mid-May, 24 Comments »
The third day from Lord’s. England are storming through this Test. Overnight declaration or will they bat for 20 minutes just to grind West Indies further into da mire?
Chat away
24 Comments »England v West Indies, 1st Test, Lord’s, 2nd day
By Will last year, mid-May, 19 Comments »
England, your task today is simple. Rack up at least 450, then bowl West Indies out for under 200. Weather is set fair so we should be in for a full day’s play. West Indies were quite dreadful yesterday, their bowlers lacking discipline and form. England just cruised along…
Leave your thoughts in the comments, if you so wish
19 Comments »England v West Indies, 1st Test, Lord’s, 1st day
By Will last year, mid-May, 11 Comments »
It’s not chucking it down. That’s the good news. But it is drizzling, so we might be in for a delayed start and a stop-start kind of day. Looks like Flintoff will miss out.
Keep an eye on the commentary and leave your thoughts below.
11 Comments »Photos from MCC v Sussex, Lord’s
By Will last year, mid-April, 4 Comments »
Some cracking photos from Peter Meade of MCC v Sussex.
Matthew Hoggard in typical unrestrained, relaxed, un-mediary pose:
Steve Harmison. Pensive as ever.
And finally…
The start of the English season
By Will last year, mid-April, 4 Comments »
The English season finally got underway today, even though I still feel as though it’s the middle of winter, what with this blasted World Cup dragging on for an eternity. Here’s a pic from today’s opener, MCC v Sussex, from Martin Williamson - my boss and fellow Cricinfo winner and photo phanatic.
Spot the mistake. Pleasingly, despite today’s unseasonal sunny cheer, the day ended in true early-season style: bad light stopped play.
4 Comments »Partying in Cherie’s gob
By Will 2 years ago, at the end of September, 2 Comments »
I’m so eloquent with my titles on this blog aren’t I? All class. Anyway, just seen this photo - a birthday party in the Lord’s media centre (some say it resembled Cherie Blair’s rather unnaturally wide mouth. Hence the title. You got that though).
Lord’s is where it’s at these days…out with the dusty traditionalists and in with, hang on…women? WOMEN? They’ll be letting them vote, introducing pay equality and all sorts next!
Live discussion: England v Pakistan, 2nd ODI, Lord’s
By Will 2 years ago, at the start of September, 6 Comments »
It’s another one-dayer. It’s at Lord’s. It involves England, so cue a flurry of words post-match about why they’re so crap, how this affects the Ashes etc etc
But maybe, just maybe, they might wake up for today’s match. Chat away, leave comments and generally make a nuisance of yourselves here.
6 Comments »Peter the Lord’s cat
By Will 2 years ago, at the end of August, 3 Comments »
Saw this reviewed in a newspaper today, and it looks well worth buying. I might even get it myself unless I can borrow one from work.
Synopsis
In 2005, Aurum republished with success, J.L. Carr’s miniature and classic “Dictionary of Extra-Ordinary Cricketers” - the book reprinted within a few months. Now, in its first collaboration with John Wisden & Co., publishers of the celebrated annual “Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack”, it publishes a similarly eccentric gallery of quixotic and eccentric cricketers, edited by acclaimed cricket writer Gideon Haigh. But where readers of J.L. Carr were never quite sure whether the author had somehow embellished - or even completely invented - the facts about the cricketers he anthologised, the esoteric details and mad whimsies recorded in these obituaries are exactly as they appeared in the august pages of the Almanack itself. Thus, we read of Anthony Ainley, who besides a claim to fame of playing the Master in “Dr. Who”, opened the batting clad in “sunblock, helmet and swimming goggles” and always took his teas alone in his car, “possibly because he despised cheeses of all kinds”.” There is the Rev. Reginald Heber Ross, whose two first-class cricket appearances were separated by a record 32 years. And there is the much-lamented loss of Peter the Cat, who frequented the pavilion at Lord’s for many years. He gets his own obituary.
Peter the Lord’s Cat: And Other Unexpected Obituaries from Wisden - £7.18. Check out the “cricket_books” tag or this post for some book recommendations.
3 Comments »Too busy, too famous for an autograph?
By Will 2 years ago, mid-August, 8 Comments »
I was never much of an autograph hunter in my youth. Perhaps my Dad instilled it in me, but the only autographs I ever wanted were from people I considered great: Weekes, Sobers, Haynes…err, Gatting. In fact, during a Middlesex game I ran down the steps in the Mound Stand to where Angus Fraser was grazing, at fine-leg, and queued up to get his autograph. In front of me was a portly, middle-aged gentleman who (can’t believe I remember this) had two pairs of glasses: one on top of his head, and the other on his nose. What amazed me, though - I was about 12 at the time - was the book or tome he was holding. In it contained thousands of autographs, not just of cricketers but seemingly anyone able to scrawl their name with a biro. To this day I wondered what fascinated him so much about it all. Why would anyone want an autograph anyway? The only reason I got Angus’s was to try and have a chat with him and ask him how I could play for Middlesex!
Anyway, enough ramblings. Two rather interesting letters in the Times for tomorrow:
Sir, I have just returned with three small boys from watching a wonderful English victory at Headingley, just the sort of day to get our young captivated by the sport. But, alas, no longer do the players pop out at lunch to sign autographs, as Lloyd and Gower did for me as a child; and so we went to where they leave. After waiting for an hour most of them walked straight past. The worst offenders were those who are supposed to be role models for our young, such as one who pretended to be on the phone and our captain, who ignored everyone. Considering play finished at 3pm surely they had a spare moment?
JANE HARPER
Kirkbymoorside, N YorksSir, What was striking about the crowd at the Headingley Test — aided by the sensible ticket pricing — was the great diversity of the crowd. Around me sat people from 8 to 80, from every class, women of all ages, England and Pakistani supporters intermingled, even a solitary — though somewhat baffled — Estonian student.
STEPHEN O’LOUGHLIN
Huddersfield, W Yorks
Ignoring my cynicism and indifference to the world of autograph hunting, it’s sad that the England players alluded to above didn’t have the time to sign anything. I can’t imagine that is in anyway a reflection on the team, though.
8 Comments »England v Pakistan, 1st Test, Lord’s, 5th day
By Will 2 years ago, mid-July, 7 Comments »
Final day from Lord’s. Unless Steve Harmison and Matthew Hoggard can produce something extraordinary, this is heading towards a draw. Chat away, though.
7 Comments »England v Pakistan, 1st Test, 2nd day, Lord’s
By Will 2 years ago, mid-July, 3 Comments »
Fascinating first day, and honours went to England. What about the second? Will England build on their lead, or can Pakistan strike back in the morning? Chat away! (Cricinfo live scorecard)
3 Comments » « Previous Entries